WILSON-William T. WILSON, a highly-respected citizen of St. John's Township, came to the country in 1865, first locating on section 28, where he purchased eighty acres of partly-improved land. He remained there one year and then purchased forty acres of his present place on section 21. It was wild land at the time, upon which he has placed many substantial improvements, and to which he has added until he now owns one hundred and sixty acres, all improved but fifteen acres. He makes a specialty of breeding fine horses and hogs.

Mr. WILSON is a native of Knox County, Ky., born August 5, 1820, and traces his ancestry back to Peter WILSON, a native of Virginia, who married Elizabeth SEERS, by whom eight children were born--Enoch, John, David, Peter, William, Peggy, Mrs. FURGESON; America, Mrs. FURGESON; Diana, Mrs. HAMLIN. David HAMLIN, the father of our subject was born and reared on his father's farm in Kentucky, and married Mary WITT, of Georgia. She was the daughter of Asbro WITT. David WILSON and wife are the parents of twelve children, five of whom still survive--Almeda, Mrs. CLAGHORN, (deceased); Enoch, a resident of Kentucky; Virginia, Mrs. HART, (deceased); Elizabeth, Mrs. HAMLIN, (deceased); William, our subject; Asbro, a resident of Colorado; Peter (deceased); Obedience, Mrs. COX, of Kansas; Susan, Mrs. BROWN, (deceased); John, a resident of Indiana; Sampson, of Indiana; and James (deceased).

Mrs. WILSON was born in Knox County, Ky., and was reared on his father's farm, and went to farming for himself when he became of age. In 1843 he moved to Putnam County, Ind., bought forty acres of land, and in 1856, moved to Park County, bought a farm which he cultivated four years, and then returned to Putnum County, and remained until the time of his coming to Harrison County, in 1865.

Our subject was united in marriage January 22, 1857, in Indiana, to Lucy A. COX, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (PRUETT) COX, of Kentucky. Fourteen children have been born of this union, six of whom still survive--Mary, Mrs. JAMES, of Woodbury County; Senia (deceased); Enoch (deceased); Maggie, Mrs. ALEXANDER, residing at Long Pine, Neb.; Eliza Ellen, (deceased); Thomas S., a resident of Harrison County; Virginia, (deceased); Ardella, and Susan at home; Hattie, Hettie and Harley, (triplets) (deceased); William P., (deceased); and Millie at home.

Politically Mr. WILSON affiliates with the Democratic party. He belongs to the Mutual Protection society.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 480, 481
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SMITH-Samuel T. SMITH, the junior member of the firm of LYMAN & SMITH, was born in York County, Penn., January 8, 1855, and is the son of Samuel A. and Martha B. (TOSH) SMITH, who were of Irish descent, but natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively. The former is a resident of the Keystone State, but the mother is deceased. They had a family of ten children, six of whom still survive--Joseph, William, Margaret E., Daniel, Samuel T. and Mary J.

Samuel T. was reared in Pennsylvania, surrounded by the scenes of rural life, and educated in the public schools. He remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age, at which time he went to Baltimore and became a salesman in a commission and grocery establishment, where he remained four years, and in the spring of 1883 came to Iowa, spending some months in the eastern part of the state, but during the month of April, 1884, came to Dunlap and engaged with R. B. HILLAS, as clerk, with whom he was associated until he succeeded him in business.

Mr. SMITH was married to Miss Lizzie CADWELL, January 8, 1891. She was born in Independence, Iowa.

Both our subject and his estimable wife are acceptable members of the Congregational Church. In his political choice he is a Republican.

In looking over the history of the various business firms of Harrison County one finds but few instances, if any, where so large a concern has come into existence and been owned by men who started in life with no other capital than their business tact and energy.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 527, 528
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MCCORMICK-Rev. W. J. MCCORMICK, pastor of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church at Dunlap, forms the subject of this notice. He succeeded Father M. LYNCH, in August, 1886. He was born February 13, 1860, in Boston, Mass., and when a small child, movedwith his parents to Mineral Point, Wis., where his early youth was spent. After receiving a common-school education at home, he took a collegiate course in St. Mary's Academy at Baltimore, Md., from which institution he graduated in 1884. He was ordained by Bishop COSGROVE, of Davenport, Iowa. His first charge over a congregation was at Magnolia, Modale and Little Sioux, Harrison County, Iowa. After one year and one-half, he was made pastor of the church at Dunlap.

He is the son of John and Bridget MCCORMICK, who were born and reared in Ireland, and in 1835, they came to America, at which time they had two children. They located in Boston, where they remained until 1860, and then removed to Wisconsin, where the father died in 1882. The mother still survives, and is a resident of Mineral Point. Our subject has four brothers and two sisters.

Father MCCORMICK is a well-educated man and has labored energetically, for the upbuilding of his church, and the general welfare of his congregation, in consequence of which, he is beloved by all.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 538
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OLINGER-Reuben OLINGER, a farmer living on section 2, of Cincinnati Township, came to Harrison County in the autumn of 1868, and settled in St. John's Township, where he rented land for about four years, then moved into Cincinnati Township, and rented there until 1883, when he bought his present farm, which then consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of improved land, upon which he has lived ever since. All was new and wild when he came to the county, and while he was only three miles and a half from the Valley, on account of there being no bridges, he was compelled to go twelve miles to get there. Fish Lake is about forty yards wide and he lived on the north side of the lake, and sometimes he would swim his horse across the lake to get to and from town.

Our subject was born in Armstrong County, Pa., January 15, 1839, and he remained with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, then went for himself, following farming and boating for four years. He ran Oil City to Pittsburg, and remained there in that county until 1868, when he came West and located in St. John's Township, Harrison County.

Among the important events of his life, may be mentioned that of his marriage to Miss Margaret ZUVER, in December 1860. They are the parents of twelve children--William, Anna, George, Joseph, Sarah, Andrew J., Julia E., Margaret, Josie M., Guy, Reuben, Elizabeth, all living. Mrs. OLINGER is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine ZUVER, who were born in Armstrong County, Pa., in 1821. George OLINGER, father of our subject, was born in Somerset County, Pa., in 1798, and remained there until he grew to manhood, and then went to Armstrong County, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying when he was sixty-six years of age, in 1859. His wife, Annie (STUYVESANT) OLINGER, was also born in Somerset County, where she remained until the date of her marriage and died in Armstrong County, in 1887, aged about eighty-two years. They were the parents of fourteen children, our subject being the ninth. They were members of the Lutheran Church, as is our subject.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 788 & 791
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VINING-Albert B. VINING. The Empire State has furnished very many representative men who have become citizens of Harrison County, among whom may be named the subject of this sketch, who was born in Eastern New York, February 6, 1833. He is the son of Robert and Polly (WATERS) VINING, of Dutch and English extraction. Albert B. was one of a family of four children, one of whom is deceased. His brother Richard resides in Woodbine, this county; his sister, Mrs. Rachel WALKER, resides in Adams County, Iowa. The parents died in their native State. Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools of New York, and at the age of twelve years engaged in the hatter's trade, which he followed until he was twenty-two years of age and then came West, locating where Woodbine now stands. This was in October, 1855. After he had located in the county he commenced farm life again, and two years later, on June 14, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet FINCH, who was born in Greene County, N.Y., August 14, 1839. She was the daughter of Abraham and Laura (MERWIN) FINCH, and is of English origin. She was of a family of ten children.

Our subject purchased forty acres of land and kept adding until he had one hundred and sixty acres on sections 18, 19 and 20, and later on purchased two "forties" more, all in Harrison Township, and all of which he has disposed of. In 1859 he, with his wife, returned to New York, where they spent some four or five years, and in the spring of 1864 went to Wisconsin and remained until 1866, when they returned to Iowa and again located in Harrison Township, and there remained until 1882, when they moved into the town of Dunlap, remained eighteen months, and in the spring of 1884 purchased the farm they now occupy, on section 16. The farm consists of eighty acres.

Politically, Mr. VINING is an advocate and supporter of the Republican party. He is a member of Hospitable Lodge, No. 244, of A. F. & A. M. He was presented for service September 30, 1863, by draft, but owing to physical disability was exempted from service after holding a month or so. He was one of the promoters of the organization of Vineland school district, and has done much toward building up this part of the county.

Mr. and Mrs. VINING are the parents of five children--Mary L., wife of James ATHERTON, of Harrison Township, who was born April 11, 1858, and married March 14, 1880, by Rev. J. E. LISLE; Myran, born December 28, 1859, and now resides on a farm in Buchanan County; Albert R., born October 3, 1861, now a resident of Monona County; Laura J., born April 9, 1866, wife of Charles ATHERTON, married November 11, 1883, and now residing in Crawford County; Robert, born December 28, 1868, still at home.

Our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have always manifested great interest in educational matters.

The subjoined incident, connected with early days in Harrison County, cannot fail to be of interest to every reader: When our subject first came to the county, wolves and game of all kinds were very numerous, and not unfrequently has our subject, after a toilsome day's work, been followed to his very door by hungry wolves. A rather amusing incident occurred while he was yet a young man and keeping bachelors' hall in company with his brother and another man. One night in the winter of 1855, when the snow was about six inches deep, after having retired for the night, Mr. VINING heard a noise on the roof of their "dug-out," so he quietly stole out of bed, got his musket, and sallied forth with nothing on but his shirt. He longed for sport, and now was his opportunity, so he did not stop for clothing. Upon going out of doors he saw a wolf, which started down the hillside slowly, and our subject took deliberate aim, fired and crippled the wolf, which ran with its fore-parts dragging its hind-part; observing this, Mr. VINING started for the wolf in hot (or rather cold) pursuit, giving chase some sixty yards. It will be remembered that he was barefooted, and in fact the greater portion of his anatomy was in the same condition, but he kept on running through the snow with the sharp crust breaking at every step, but finally he overtook and captured his prize, and born him triumphantly back to the dug-out.

In the winter of 1856-57 he had a comical experience with a nimble-footed deer, which he endeavored to ride, but as the animal strenuously object, he concluded he would abandon the idea, but it was after he had been thrown violently from its back three times, and came near getting tramped into the deep snow by the frightened and enraged animal.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 800, 801
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RAYMOND-William T. RAYMOND, a Justice of the Peace, residing at Missouri Valley, came to Harrison County in 1855, and located about two miles and a half northwest of Magnolia, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and located one hundred and twenty acres on his father's land warrant. Here our subject remained on the farm and in the hotel business, at Magnolia, until he removed to his farm in St. John's Township, in 1872. He spent the year 1871, in Missouri Valley, and in March 1889, removed there to live permanently.

He was born in Branford, New Haven County, Conn., about ten miles east of New Haven. His parents were Lucius T., and Hannah (ROBINSON) RAYMOND, of English ancestry, who trace their lineage back to the "Mayflower." Our subject was born March 21, 1823, and is the second of a family of four children. His father was a carpenter by trade, and was in a New York regiment, that served in the War of 1812. He came to Harrison County, in 1857, and died in 1873, while his good wife, the mother of our subject, passed from the scenes of earth in June, 1863. Our subject's early education was received in the common schools of Connecticut and he attended an academy for three months, which was all of the schoolroom education he ever enjoyed. He served an apprenticeship at shoemaking, but the last ten years that he lived in his native State he was in one of the largest hotels in New Haven, known as the Tontine Hotel.

In 1854, we find our subject in Chicago, where he chanced to meet a friend, who with him drove from Davenport to Council Bluffs, making the journey in six days. He was married at the Astor House, New York City, October 10, 1848, to Mary A. CARRINGTON, who died December 25, 1849, as did also an infant child. For his second wife our subject married Sarah L. PATCH, a native of Loraine County, Ohio, her people coming to the Western Reserve in Ohio, at a very early day. Her father was born in Massachusetts, and her mother in New York. By Mr. RAYMOND's second marriage, two sons and one daughter were born, the latter dying when one year of age. The sons are Miles W., who resides in Atchison, Kan., in the employ of the Hartford Accident Insurance Company, and Mason Hobart, the other son, in the employ of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad Company, at Missouri Valley. The father of Mrs. RAYMOND died in Harrison County, and his remains were deposited in the cemetery, at Magnolia. A singular co-incidence in this family history is the fact that our subject's mother and his wife's mother, were both named Hannah ROBINSON.

Politically, our subject is a Democrat "to the backbone," and he called the first Democratic convention in Harrison County, in 1857. It may here be remarked that his great-grandfather, Mason Hobart, was in the Revolutionary War. In the way of civic societies, Mr. RAYMOND is a member of Missouri Valley Lodge, No. 232, of A. F. & A. M., having joined that order in Connecticut in 1851, being a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 1, at New Haven. At one time he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 845, 846
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MILES-Benaiah S. MILES, a farmer living on section 14, Jackson Township, came to Harrison County in the autumn of 1866, and first located on the farm now occupied by William Arthur. He moved into a small log house and rented land adjoining and remained eight months. He came to the country in company with his parents. About that time he bought the farm he now occupies, which consisted of one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, and upon it erected a small log house, which stood partly in the bank or hill side. Here he remained for four years, and then built a story and a half frame house, 22x30 feet, with a wing 14x20 feet. He also built a good barn, double cribs and granary, dug a well, and erected a wind mill. He also set out shade trees, and fenced this farm. He now has seventy acres under the plow, while the balance is in meadow and pasture land. He came to the county poor, and saw his share of hardships during the grasshopper days.

Our subject was born October 7, 1855, in Caledonia County, Vt. He is a son of Joseph G., and Nancy M. MILES, natives of the Green Mountain State, who had a family of five children: Benaiah S., deceased; Horatio, deceased; Anna M., Alanson E., deceased; Benaiah S., Jr.

Our subject remained in Vermont until he was ten years of age, when the family came to Harrison County. They came by way of a "prairie schooner" (covered wagon) from Chicago, and camped out by the way, in good old emigrant style.

Our subject was married in June, 1877, to Elizabeth GRIFFITH, the daughter of David and Nancy GRIFFITH, natives of Missouri, who had five children, our subject's wife being the youngest. Their names were as follows: Samantha, Melinda, Sarah, Alvira and Elizabeth.

For his second wife our subject married November 6, 1890, Myrtle LINDERMAN, the daughter of Theodore V. and Ellen LINDERMAN, natives of Ohio, who had a family of eleven children: Mary, Myrtle, William, Walter, Maude, Myra, Menona, deceased; Dora, deceased; Mary, Estella, and Thad, deceased.

Our subject and his wife are the parents of five children: Oliver W., Nellie, deceased; Minnie, Joseph and Katie.

Mr. MILES, politically, is not altogether in harmony with either of the two great political parties, but at the present time affiliates with the Farmers' Alliance element.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 892
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COE-Josiah COE (Portrait), the man whose name heads this sketch, has passed through the mill of pioneer hardships in Harrison County, coming to this section as he did, during the month of April, 1854. He in company with a young man by the name of Cyrus WHITMORE, followed the old Mormon trail from Keokuk on foot to Council Bluffs, and was twelve days on the road. The first summer after his arrival here he worked on a farm in Boyer Township, for a Mr. PHILLIPS, and in the fall of 1854 he went to Crawford County, where he bought a claim, land not having yet come into market, but the following year, with a party of twelve persons, he went to the Council Bluffs land office, to enter his land at eh Government price of $1.25 per acre; the party got together and gave the speculators to understand, that if they wanted to be baptized beneath the clay-colored waters of the Missouri Rive, to just overbid them on these lands, which they never did. Mr. COE never lived on that tract of land, but traded in 1856 for an sixty-acre farm in Boyer Township, at what is known as Twelve-Mile Grove. This farm was taken in exchange for two hundred acres in Crawford County. Our subject was a bachelor at the time and boarded with Mathew HALL, who was a near neighbor.

In 1856 he pre-empted a quarter-section where he now lives, and by breaking prairie and laying a foundation for a house, which was then called bona fide improvements, he was enabled to hold his claim one year, and in 1857 he paid the Government price for the land.

Early in the spring of 1855 Mr. COE and John MOORHEAD went to Nebraska with five yoke of cattle and broke one hundred acres of land between Omaha and Florence, at $1 per acre, and returned to Harrison County in time for harvest. He only had five acres of wheat, which a neighbor, Luke JEFFERSON, cut with a cradle, while he bound it up himself. The same year he entered another forty acres of land adjoining other tract.

To inform the reader of the birth and early years of the man for whom this sketch is written, it may be said that he was born March 4, 1830, in Athens County, Ohio, where he remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age and then came to Iowa. He is the son of James COE, born in Connecticut during the first year of this century, and when ten years of age with his parents emigrated to the Buckeye State, his father building the first mill in Athens County. James COE's wife, the mother of our subject, was Katherine (HURLBURT) COE, married in 1823, and was the mother of ten children, our subject being the fifth child.

Josiah COE was married March 20, 1865, to Miss Jessie KINNIS, at Plattsmouth, Neb., and by this union there are eight children--Jennie E., Katie M., Bertha, George W., Mary, Arthur J., Jessie S., and Amy. The last named died March 31, 1891. George and Bertha are now attending college at Des Moines. Jennie and Kate have both attended the Drake University, at Des Moines, the former marrying Charles F. COE March 3, 1891.

Concerning the family history of our subject's wife, she ws born in Scotland in the town of Perth, June 14, 1843, and in 1854 emigrated with her parents to America, remaining in New York City until 1859, when the family came to Harrison County. Her father was Andrew KINNIS, Sr., a native of Scotland and born January 1, 1785, and died in Harrison County February 4, 1864. The mother was born June 8, 1798, in the Highlands of Scotland, at Dalquise and died in Harrison County January 22, 1884. They were the parents of seven children, Mrs. COE being the youngest.

In May, 1884, Mrs. COE with her brother, D. M. KINNIS, sailed for the land of her birth and visited until September. Mr. and Mrs. COE are members of the Christian Church, the latter having been reared in the Baptist Church, but finding no such denomination here, attached herself to the Christian Church in New York, which faith she still holds, her husband having been a member of this church eight years.

Politically our subject is a stanch supporter of the Republican party.

Mr. COE helped select the swamp land of Harrison County from Logan to the south line of the county. George WHITE was surveyor in charge and the party consisted of that gentleman, Mr. COE, Smith BLAKELY, and George SMOTHERS. This work was executed in the winter of 1854-55, and they camped in the timber which skirts the Boyer River.

The first improvements on Mr. COE's place was the building of a log cabin which was 16x20 feet and was erected in 1858; this building was originally built by L. D. BUTLER on the Picayune Creek and still stands on COE's farm, a good building; the same was occupied by the family until he built his present residence, which is a two-story brick house, the main part of which is 30x36 feet with a kitchen 14x16 feet, erected in 1870 and at the time was said to be the best house in the county. Beneath this farmhouse is a cellar nine feet deep, with a wall sixteen inches thick. The total cost of this building was $4,000.

Having due care for the large number of stock he keeps, in 1869 he build a barn 30x40 feet and in 1882 erected a cow barn 20x24 feet. Prior to this he had the ordinary Iowa Hay and straw shedding.

While the years have been passing by, this man has been busily engaged in the honest efforts to accumulate property, and when one views his present landed estate, comprising something over thirteen hundred acres, and realizes that he is President of the Commercial Bank at Woodbine, over which he has presided ever since it was organized in September, 1884, it will go without saying that his efforts have been crowned with success.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 895, 896
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MARKS-Benjamin F. MARKS, a highly respected farmer located on section 13, of Lincoln Township, has been a resident of Harrison County since 1865.

He was born January 3, 1835, and is a son of Jonathan N. and Adaline (PRIOR) MARKS, natives of Connecticut, who had six children in the following order: Edgar B., Merritt, Amelia, Benjamin F., Elnora H., and Isaac B.

Our subject, Benjamin F., left the High School when seventeen years of age, and clerked in a store for four years, and then went to Chicago, where he was a dry-goods clerk for six years. While there he had the opportunities to obtain lots at $100 each, which would be worth a fortune today, but they were so low and wet that he did not consider them worth $5 apiece. From Chicago he drifted to Texas, New Mexico and Florida. In 1862 he enlisted in the Eighteenth Wisconsin Infantry at Corinth, Miss. He wore the loyal blue for three years and two months, and received an honorable discharge in Washington in1865. He then went to Iowa, locating in Harrison County, where he has been ever since.

He was united in marriage New Year's Day, 1868, with Mary Jane JOHNSON, daughter of Nathan and Margaret JOHNSON, natives of Virginia, who had two children, of whom our subject's wife was the youngest. Her father was an old settler in this county, and served a number of terms as County Supervisor from Lincoln Township.

Mr. and Mrs. MARKS are the parents of eight children--Maggie E., born August 29, 1870; Marietta A., September 12, 1873; Harriet A., December 30, 1874; Katie E., March 30, 1876; Emma S., October 22, 1877; Harry B., September 19, 1879; James Wilson, November 26, 1884; and Edward E., August 13, 1886.

Mr. MARKS has held many of the local offices, and has been Township Clerk for fifteen years. Mrs. MARKS is a member of the Christian Church.

When our subject first came to the county, he worked in a sawmill on the Boyer River, in Harrison Township, the same being owned by A. K. GROW, and has since been washed away. After he had worked there between two and three years, he engaged in farming in Lincoln Township, which he still follows.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 942, 943
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